Richard Lovelace, 1st Baron Lovelace facts for kids
Richard Lovelace (born 1564 – died April 22, 1634) was an important English politician from Hurley, England. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a parliament, at different times between 1601 and 1622. In 1627, he was given the special title of Baron Lovelace.
Richard Lovelace was the son of Richard Lovelace and Anne Warde. He went to Merton College, Oxford in 1584 to study. In 1599, he was made a knight, which is a special honor. When his father passed away in 1602, Richard took over the family's responsibilities.
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Early Life and Military Service
Richard Lovelace also served as a soldier. He led a group of soldiers in Ireland under the Lord Deputy. After his service there, he was knighted in Dublin by the Earl of Essex.
Because of his connection with the Earl of Essex, Richard Lovelace faced some trouble. He was briefly held because of accusations of disloyalty to Queen Elizabeth I. However, he was soon released and cleared of any wrongdoing.
His Time in Parliament
Richard Lovelace was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. This meant he represented different areas in the English Parliament:
- In 1601, he represented Berkshire.
- In 1604, he represented Abingdon.
- In 1614, he represented New Windsor.
- In 1621, he represented Berkshire again.
Important Roles and Titles
Besides being an MP, Richard Lovelace held other important positions. He was chosen as the High Sheriff of Berkshire for 1610-11. Later, he was also the High Sheriff for Oxfordshire in 1626-27. A High Sheriff was a very important local official, like a chief law enforcement officer for the county.
In 1627, King Charles I gave him the title of Baron Lovelace of Hurley. This made him a nobleman. Richard Lovelace passed away in Hurley in 1634.
Family Life
Richard Lovelace was married two times. His first wife was Katherine Gyll. They did not have any children together.
His second wife was Margaret Dodworth. She came from a wealthy merchant family. Richard and Margaret had a large family with four sons and five daughters. Their oldest son, John Lovelace, 2nd Baron Lovelace, inherited his father's title. One of their daughters, Elizabeth, married Henry Marten, who was involved in the execution of King Charles I.
